The rapid developments in communication, informatics and nano- and bio-
technologies give rise to a new difficulty: how to build a complex
functioning system from a large number (say, 10^10-10^12) of smart, man-made
interacting elements. Such systems are too complex for design and for
blueprint construction. The challenge is to develop a new engineering
methodology for the creation of such systems.
Currently, despite the great progress in computational power, we have not
reached even the ability to simulate the intracellular gel of a single
bacterium, the simplest living organism, let alone design one. This
macromolecular plexus, composed of ~10^11 interacting polymers, proteins
and nucleic acid segments, each with its own internal structure,
continuously re-organizes its structure and composition in response to
external stimuli and according to information stored in the DNA. Nature
has not built such gels, cells, organs and organisms following some
pre-designed blueprint, but rather via a process of biotic
self-organization.
I have conducted in parallel investigations of bacterial and neuronal self
organization, seeking to unravel the general principles of biotic
self-organization. This 9 endeavor proved successful, and our level of
understanding is now such that I feel it can hint at a new approach to
building complex man-made systems.
Our central nervous system is composed of 10^11-10^12 neurons with about
10^16 synaptic connections. A typical bacterial colony consists of 10^9-10^12
bacteria. Both systems are not created by pre-design or according to a
plan, but through a process of biotic self organization. The elements
(neurons or bacteria) do not store the information required to construct
the system, but rather the information for creating the needed "tools"and
the guiding principles. Additional information is cooperatively generated
as the organization proceeds following external stimulation. The key
principles that enable it are communication and self-plasticity of the
components. The outcome is an adaptable complex system that can perform
many tasks, learn and change itself accordingly.
Consequently, the idea of engineered self-organization is to let many
collections of element self-organize in a pre-engineered environment they
can exchange information with. The most efficient collections will be let
to further self-improve via genetic algorithms of the components internal
structure and capabilities (the analog of evolution of the potential for
gene expression). The system itself should regulate the evolution of its
components.
I'll conclude with projections in regards to turning the conceptual idea,
of engineered self-organization of communicating elements with
self-plasticity, into an operational approach that will enable the
creation systems too complex for design, yet with desired pre-specified
capabilities.